Friday, January 25, 2019

James: the Word's Indictment Against Sin (it's more than what you think)

Jas 1:19  This you know, my beloved brethren. But let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; 
Jas 1:20  for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. 
Jas 1:21  Therefore putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.

Jas 3:14  But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth.  (see 1John 1:6,8).

Jas 4:11  Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother, or judges his brother, speaks against the law, and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law, but a judge of it. 

They shouldn't be angry against God's indictment of their sins which include:

Doubting God's Word which is unbelief and so they go to the world for wisdom (1:5-8;3:13-18). (see Eph. 4:17-24)
Argue and speak against the Word which sits in judgment of one's sin (1:19; 2:9;4:11)
Being a mere hearer of the Word and not a doer of it (hypocrisy) (1:19,22-27).
Unbridled tongue and calling himself religious (1:26).
Visiting the true orphan and true widow (instead of special attention to the rich 2:1-6).
Adultery with the world (1:27; 4:4).
Sin of partiality for selfish gain (preference of the rich unbeliever so as to gain their favor and not be persecuted and to gain position and wealth (2:1,6;4;3:13-16;4:1-4).
Judges with evil motives (2:4-9;4:3).
Hating one's neighbor thus breaking the royal law of love (2:8-9).
Judging the Law itself as if a Judge, as they sit in judgment of a brother (2:9; 4:11).
Bless God but curse men (brothers they sit in judgment over and slander), hypocrisy (3:8-10; 4:11.)
Claim to be teachers and have wisdom but have bad fruit (3:12-16).
Can't even obey the law they claim to teach (2:8-11).
Divisive (2: 1-4:1-4).
Quarrels, conflicts, bitter jealousy, envy, lust, murder, hedonism (4:1-2).
Wrong motives (4:3).
The source of conflicts is demonic, earthly, and natural  wisdom (3:13-16;4:1-4).
Doctrinal triage (1:19, 2:9-11;4:11).

Jas 4:6  But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, "GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE."
Jas 4:7  Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
Jas 4:8  Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Jas 4:9  Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy to gloom.
Jas 4:10  Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.

This passage is in the context of those who claim to be teachers with wisdom or those who say they want wisdom, but actually doubt Scripture or worse, are spiritual whores who have demonic, earthly, and natural wisdom which is opposed to biblical, godly Wisdom. This is known by the fruits they bear. Resisting the devil necessarily means submitting to God's Word and indictment of your sin and repenting of it in humility, while at the same time rejecting the demonic, earthly wisdom of the world and it's friendship. (See Eph. 4:17-24).

Jas 4:11  Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother, or judges his brother, speaks against the law, and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law, but a judge of it.
Jas 4:12  There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor?

Speaking against one another ("katalaleo") = speak evil, slander, backbite. To do this is to do it to the Law of God, sitting in judgement of both. It's to presume to judge others and to do so with partiality, impure, selfish, motives out of envy, bitter jealousy, and self advancement, of the one that belongs to Christ and who posses true fruit of the Spirit. It is to NOT love the saints, to be territorial over one's empire, to dismiss the believer based on his position in life because he can't advance your cause and position to a higher one. It is Matt. 7 which Jesus condemns the Pharisees for doing. It's using a false standard (men's traditions, commentaries, pragmatism) to judge a child of God.

And that's exactly what Evangelical leaders are doing with white Christians as they divide away from the truth to the world's demonic wisdom ("social justice") and slander them with sin they have not committed. See also Eph. 4:17-24 and Col. 2-3.

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